Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Zanmustawhi&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Zanmustawhi’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with white ray florets and a cream center and prolific branching; natural season flowering date September 24 (week 39); blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat.

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘Zanmustawhi’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat., commercially known as a garden mum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar denomination ‘Zanmustawhi’. ‘Zanmustawhi’ is a product of a breeding and selection program for outdoor pot mums (garden mums) which had the objective of creating new cultivars with a double type inflorescence, a natural season flowering date around September 24 (week 39), blooming for a period of 5 weeks. ‘Zanmustawhi’ is a seedling resulting from a cross of the female parent id 23633 with the male parent id 46175. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmustawhi’ differ from plants of the female parent in the following characteristics. (1) Natural season flowering date. And (2) Inflorescence size. (1) Plants of the seedling flower earlier in the season than those of the female parent. (2) Inflorescences of the seedling are larger than those of the female parent. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmustawhi’ differ from plants of the male parent in plant vigor; plants of the seedling are less vigorous than those of the male parent.

The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant by Wilhelmus Bemardus Blom on a cultivated field in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in 2007. The first act of asexual production of ‘Zanmustawhi’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings from the initial selection in 2007 were propagated further in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum (of about 17 weeks) is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the various stages of foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown out door in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands under natural day length and temperature and planted in week 23 in 2012. The natural blooming date of this crop was September 24 (week 39). The average height of the plants was 2.5 cm. No growth retardants were used. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with white ray florets with a cream center blooming for a period of 5 weeks.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Zanmustawhi’ are ‘Zanmudove’ (U.S. PPAF) and ‘Zanmuglow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,617). When ‘Zanmustawhi’, ‘Zamudove’ and ‘Zanmuglow’ are being compared the following differences are noticed: (1) Inflorescence size. And (2) Natural flowering date. (1) Inflorescences of ‘Zanmudove’ are larger than those of ‘Zanmustawhi’ and ‘Zanmuglow’. (2) Plants of ‘Zanmustawhi’ and ‘Zanmudove’ flower later than those of ‘Zanmuglow’

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Zanmustawhi’ as a new and distinct variety.

The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 2001.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat. ‘Zanmustawhi’ Bud Size: Small; cross-section 6 mm, height 6 mm Shape: Round Texture: Pubescent Outside color: Greyed-green 191A Phyllaries Number: 18-20, arranged in 3 rows Shape: Elliptic Apex: Acute Base: Truncate Margin: Entire Color: Upper side: Green 137A Lower side: Green 137A Length and width: 6 mm; 1 mm Texture: Pubescent Inflorescences Type: Double Height: 2.5 cm Diameter:   5 cm Peduncle length: 5-8 cm Peduncle color: Green 138A Peduncle diameter: 1.5 mm Peduncle texture: Pubescent Number per branch: Approx. 6 inflorescences Duration of flowering: 5 weeks Seeds: Produced in small quantities, ovate, Greyed-brown 199A, length 1.5 mm, diameter 0.5 mm Fragrance: Faint chrysanthemum odor Color inflorescences Center of inflorescence: Immature stage: White 155A; Mature stage: White 155D Color of upper side of ray florets: White 155D Color of lower side of ray florets: White 155D Tonality from distance: A garden mum with white blooms and a cream center Color of ray florets after aging of the plant: White 155D Ray florets Texture: Upper and lower side smooth Number: 150-170 Shape: Elliptic Apex: Dentate Base: Attenuate Cross-section: Circular Longitudinal axis: Incurving to straight Length of corolla tube: 5-20 mm Ray floret margin: Entire Ray floret length: 1-2.5 cm Ray floret width: 1-3 mm Ratio length/width: Medium Disc florets Absent Receptacle Color: Yellow-green 145D Shape: Domed raised Height:   5 mm Diameter:   4 mm Reproductive Organs Androecium: Absent Pollen: Absent Gynoecium: Present on ray florets Style color: Yellow-green 154C Style length:   4 mm Stigma color: Yellow 7A Stigma width:   1 mm Ovary: Enclosed in calyx Plant Form: Grown as a spray type pot mum, outdoor raised and mounded Growth habit: Spherical shape Growth rate: Medium Height: 35 cm Width: 45 cm Stem color: Greyed-brown 199A Stem strength: Strong Stem brittleness: Not brittle Stem anthocyanin coloration: Not observed Internode length:   2 cm Length of lateral branch: From top to bottom 18-20 cm Lateral branch color: Green 137 C Lateral branch, attachment: Weak Lateral branch diameter: 1.5-2 mm Branching (average number Prolific with 8-10 breaks after pinching of lateral branches): Natural season blooming date: September 24 (week 39) Foliage Leaf color: Upper side: Green 136B Lower side: Green 138A Color midvein: Upper side: Yellow-green 147D Lower side: Yellow-green 148D Size: Small; length 2-4.5 cm, width 0.8-2 cm Quantity (number per lateral 24-26 branches): Shape: Elliptic Texture upper side: Sparsely pubescent Texture under side: Pubescent Venation arrangement: Palmate Shape of margin: Serrated Shape of base of sinus between Rounded lateral lobes: Margin of sinus between lateral Diverging lobes: Shape of base: Attenuate Apex: Mucronulite Petiole length: 0.3-12 cm Petiole diameter: 1.5 mm Petiole color: Yellow-green 147D

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison varieties, when grown under identical conditions ‘Zanmustawhi’ ‘Zanmudove’ ‘Zanmuglow’ Inflorescence size 5 cm 6.5 cm 5 cm Natural season week 39 week 39 week 35 flowering date 

I Claim:
 1. A new and distinct chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmustawhi’ as described and illustrated. 